10 And in this matter I am giving advice because it is profitable for you, who began last year not only to do something but also to want to do it.(A) 11 Now also finish the task, so that just as there was an eager desire, there may also be a completion, according to what you have. 12 For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.(B) 13 It is not that there should be relief for others and hardship for you, but it is a question of equality.[a] 14 At the present time your surplus is available for their need, so that their abundance may in turn meet your need, in order that there may be equality. 15 As it is written: The person who had much did not have too much, and the person who had little did not have too little.[b](C)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 8:13 Lit but from equality
  2. 8:15 Ex 16:18

10 And I am giving an opinion in this matter, because this is profitable for you who not only began previously, a year ago, to do something, but also to want to do it. 11 So now also complete the doing of it, in order that just as you have the eagerness to want to do it, thus also you may complete it from what you have. 12 For if the eagerness is present according to what one has[a], it is acceptable not according to what one does not have[b]. 13 For this is not that for others there may be relief, and for you difficult circumstances, but as a matter of equality. 14 At the present time your abundance will be for their need, in order that their abundance may also be for your need, so that there may be equality, 15 just as it is written, “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”[c]

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 8:12 Literally “to the degree that if he might have”
  2. 2 Corinthians 8:12 Literally “to the degree that he might not have”
  3. 2 Corinthians 8:15 A quotation from Exod 16:18